Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese spiritual belief in an energy with natural healing capabilities. It employs a technique known as hands on healing or palm healing a sort of alternative medicine In some quarters of professional medicine, Reiki is categorized as oriental medicine. The complementary health practice was first popularized by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui (1865-1926) in 1922 ((Lubeck, 23).
The word Reiki is a formation of two Japanese words – Rei meaning “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki meaning “life force energy.” In essence, therefore, Reiki means “spiritually guided life force energy.” It is believed that when there is disruption, blocking or weakening of the flow of the “life force energy”, health or emotional problems are bound to occur in a person (Lubeck, 17). The imbalances are caused by physical or emotional trauma, negative feelings and thoughts, including anxiety, fear, doubt, worry, anger, negative self-talk, destructive relationships and lifestyle, toxicity, neglect of self, etc.
The underlying principle for Reiki equates the belief of using acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine as well as use of therapeutic touch (TT) in the West, where health and disease are believed to be matter of the life force being disrupted. A Reiki professional is thought to have the ability of drawing upon the energy of the universe and subsequently increase their own energy in the course of performing a healing (Moris & Morris, 4).. Reiki Healing Energy offers a way of balancing the human energy fields (Auras) as well as energy centers (Chakras) in order to create conditions required for the body’s healing system to optimally function.
Reiki is divided into two major branches: traditional Japanese Reiki and the Western Reiki. The main difference between the two branches and traditions is that Japanese forms primarily rely on intuitive sense of hand-positions while the Westernized forms are characterized by use of systematized hand-placements. However, both branches have similarity in the sense that they have a characteristic three-tiered hierarchy of degrees – the First, Second, and the Master/Teacher level – all of which have different skills and techniques (Moris & Morris, 7). The users of Reiki strongly believe that the universe consists vital energy that is undetectable by any scientific instruments, but which can only be felt and controlled by special people with tricks of the trade.
Unlike in acupuncture, there is often no attempt to unblock a patient’s ki during Reiki, but rather channelling the ki of the universe in order for the patient to heal (Lubeck, 143). Similar to TT, Reiki does not require physical massaging because ki independently flows through the body of the therapist into the client or patient . Reiki healers are thought to channel ki into the bodies of injured or ill individuals for “rebalancing”. Reiki is believed to able to treat a range of ailments such as brain damage, diabetes, venereal diseases and cancer as well as fatigue and muscle soreness.
As an alternative therapy, Reiki is believed to be very effective in reducing stress and bringing about relaxation which ultimately triggers the body’s natural healing abilities besides improving and maintaining health. The rather simple healing system working mechanism is such that it connects with the Higher Self of the recipient to promote health and the well being of the person’s physical, psychic and emotional body ((Moris & Morris, 78). In another words, Reiki serves to attain and promote wholeness of mind, body and spirit. However, the success of Reiki depends on the belief of the receiver i.e. non-belief is the greatest hindrance to the healing energy.
Reference:
Lubeck, Walter. Reiki. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1999.
Moris, J. Joyce, & Morris, R. Williams. Reiki: Hands That Heal. Massachusetts: Weiser Books, 1999.
